Knotter



Apr. 10, 11923. Il,45,941l

H. D. COLMAN KNOTTER Original Filed Mar. 9, 1916 2 sheets-sheet 1 F1". j l

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fz owardl H. D COLMAN KNOTTER Original Filed Mar. 9, 1916 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Apr. 10, 1923.

warren stares rattan HOWARD D. OOLMAN, 0F ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BARBER-0015mm COMPANY, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

Application filed marche, 1916, Serial No. 83,008. Renewed. June 14, 1926;. Serial No. 389,064.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD D. CoLMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rockford, in the county of Winnebago and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knotters, of which thefollowing is a specification.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a knotter having a knot-tightener and stripper which shall release the threads prior to the return stroke of the tightener and stripper.

Another object of the invention is to produce a knot-tying implement which may be formed almost wholly of sheet-metal and which shall be sufliciently strong and rigid so as to endure the. rough handling to which such implements are subjected.

Tnfthe accompanying drawings Figure l is a "side elevation of a knotter embodying the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmental front elevation of the knotter. Fig. 3 is a topplan view of the knotter. The parts of the knotter are shown in the same position in all of said views. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken in the plane of dotted line 4 of Fig. 8 and showing the position'assumed by the parts as the knot is be- .ing stripped from the tying bill. Fig. 5 shows the knot-tightener and stripper at the end of the working stroke. Fig. 6 is a section on dotted line 6 of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken in the plane of dotted line 7-7 of Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a fragmental sectional view taken approxi- Inately in a horizontal plane. Fig. 9 is a section on line 9 of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a sectional view illustrating the pivot for the shearing and clampiiTg aw.

While the invention is not limited to knotters of the hand implement type, the em- 6, the top wall 7 and the front wall 8. The

front end of the arm 3 is rigidly secured to the frame 4 by means comprising a stud 9 riveted to the side member 6 and a cap screw 10 (Fig. 8). The rea'rends of the side memthe sections 15 and 16 form the two relatively-stationary jaws 17 and 18.

Referring to Figs. 8 and 10: 19 is a pivot pin formed integral with a base 20 which is riveted in place at the junction of the jaw 17 and the stem-section 15. The pivot pin 19 extends through a boss 21 formed upon the outer side of the base of the jaw 18.

The boss 21 provides an increased diameter over which the threads are looped in tying the knot, whereby the knot is more easily stripped from the tying bill.

A shearing and clamping jaw 22 is pivoted upon the pin 19 between the jaws 17 and 18. The adjacent edges of the jaws 18 and 22 are shearing edges, while the adjacent edges of the jaws 17 and 22 are sufficiently blunt so that threads may be clamped between the jaws 17 and 22. In order that the jaws 18 and 22 may yield laterally away from the jaw 17 when threads are clamped in the tying bill, the forward portion of the stem section 16 is flattened, thus making the forward portion of said section resilient.

Such flattening also provides a slot 23 extending entirely through the supporting stem of the tying bill. A wing 24 formed integral with the shearing and clamping jaw 22 extends through the slot 23 and lies within a barrel 25 secured to the front wall 8 of the frame 4. The stem of the tying bill extends ecoentrically through the barrel 25. It will be seen that when the tying bill is rotated, the jaw 22 will be pivotally moved with relation to the aws 17 and18.

. The barrel 25 is formed integral with a base plate 26 which is secured to the wall 8 by means of two screws 27 and a lug 28 (Fig. 9) which lies in an opening 30 in the side member 5.

The tubular stem of the tying bill lies within an axial opening or socket in a roller 31 (Fig. 8), the stem being rigidly secured to said roller by means of a set screw 32. The rear end of the roller 31 has a trunnion or pivot 33 which is rotatably mounted in an opening in a bracket 34 (Fig. 7) secured to the top wall 7 by means of a screw 35. The forward end of the roller 31 is reduced in diameter to form a trunnion 36 which is rotatably mounted within a bushing 37 fitting rigidly within an opening in the front wall 8.

The means for rotating the roller 31 comprises a gear segment 38 which meshes with gear teeth 39 cut in the periphery of the roller 31. The teeth of the segment 38 are formed in a flange which is curved upon the arc of a circle concentric with the post 11, said flange being integral with a curved bar 40 which extends through an opening in the top wall 7 (see Fig. 3). One end of the bar 40 is secured to an arm 41 (Figs. 1 and 6) by means of a screw 42. The arm 41 is formed integral with an arm 43 extending beneath the frame 4. Integral with the arm 43 is a lug 44 (Fig. 6). In the arm 41 and the lug 44 are formed alined openings in which is rigidly secured a sleeve 45. Said sleeve is rotatably mounted upon the post 11. It will be seen that the sleeve 45 provides a wide bearing upon the post 11 for the pivoted structure formed of the arms 41 and 43. One end of the bar 40 is rigidly secured to the arm 43 by means of screws 46 (Fig. 7) extending through an angular lug 47 on said bar and into the arm 43. At the free end of the arm 43 is a thumb-piece 48.

The arms 41 and 43 are normally held in the position shown in Fig. 1 by means of a torsion spring49 (Figs. 3 and 6) surrounding the sleeve 45, one end of which spring bears against the side member 5 and the other end against the arm 41.

'At one side of the tying-bill is a threadguide 50 formed integral with the side member 5. At the opposite side of the tying-bill is located a combined thread-guide, knottightener and knot-stripper 51 (Figs. 4 and 5). Said device comprises an arm 52 pivoted upon a pin 53 which is riveted to the arm 3 (see Fig. 8). At the free end of the arm 52 is-a hook 54 constituting a guide for properly locating the threads with relation to the tying bill. The means for swinging the arm 52 upon its pivot 53 comprises a segment 55 (Figs. 4 and 6) which is rigidly secured to a cam plate 57. said cam plate in turn being rigidly connected to the arms 40 and 41 by means of the screw 42 (Figs. 1, 2 and The segment 55, therefore, is rigid with the arm 43. The segment 55 meshes with a gear segment 58 formed integral with the arm 52.

The knot-tightening and stripping device 51 further comprises a slide 59 lying at one side of the arm 52. The metal from which the slide 59 is formed is folded to provide a guide 60 lying at the opposite side of the arm 52. Said guide is longitudinally slotted to receive a flange 61 formed integral with the pivot 53 (see Fig. 8). It will be seen that the rear end of the slide 59 is supported and guided upon the said flange. The 0pposite end of the slide 59 supported and guided by means of a. roller stud 62 (Fig. 8) lying within an elongated opening 63 in the arm 52. Said stud is supported at one end in the body of the slide 59 and at its opposite end in a guide flange 64 formed integral with the slide and lying at the opposite side of the arm 52.

The forward ends of the slide 59 and the flange 64 are notched to engage threads extending through'the hook 54, the threads being clamped between the hook 54, the slide 59 and the flange 64, when the slide is moved into the position shown in Fig. 4. The means for reciprocating the slide59 consists of. the cam plate 57, said cam plate having a cam slot 65 therein. A ivot 66 (Fig 8) is riveted to the slide 59. l lpon said pivot is mounted a roller 67 which runs in the cam groove 65.

Assuming that the implement is mounted upon the left hand of a spooler-tender, the method of using the implement to tie a knot is as follows: When the thread running to a spool is exhausted, the operator stops the rotation of the spool by placing her left hand upon the upper end of the spool. After finding the end of the exhausted thread upon the spool, the operator lays said thread and the thread from the bobbin in the hook 54, behind the tying bill 14 and in the thread guide 50. The operator then swings the segment 38 and the cam plate 57 downwardly by pressure upon the thumbpiece 48. The engagement of the upper end wall of the cam slot 65 with the roller 67 limits the downward movement of the cam and segment. In the rotation of the tying bill the threads are wrapped or looped around the bill and the strands severed and clamped at one side of the loops. In the downward movement of the cam plate 57 the slide 59 is advanced to clamp the threads in the hook 54 and the arm 52 1s swung upwardly by the segment 55. The upward mov ment of the arm 52 pulls the loops ofi the tying bill, draws said loops tight, and finally pulls the threads out from between the jaws 17 and 22. As the cam 57 completes its downward movement, the slide 59 is retracted into the position shown in Fig. 5, thereby releasing the united threads. When the thumb-piece 48 is released the spring 49 restores the parts to the initial position, the bottom end-wall of the cam slot 65 serving to limit the action of the spring by stopping against the roller 67. As soon as the united threads have been released from the knotter, the operator releases the spool to rotation.

I claim as my invention:

1. A knotter having, in combination, a

in said slot, and means for oscillating said driving gear-part and cam plate and for rotating the tying bill.

2. A knotter having, in combination, a rotary tying bill, a pivoted thread-engaging arm, a gear-part rigid with the arm, a coacting driving gear-part, a member on the arm adapted to coactwith the arm to clamp the threads, a plate having a cam slot therein,

said plate and driving gearart being rigidly connected together, a stu on said'member lyingin saidslot, and means for oscillating said driving gear-part and plate and for rotating the tying bill. 3. A knotter having, in combination, a

frame, a pivot in said frame, a tying bill.

rotatably mounted in the frame, a hooked arm pivoted in the frame, a slide supported on the said arm for movement longitudinally of the arm to clamp and release threads lying in the hook of said arm, a gear segment mounted to swing on said pivot, a

gear segment on said arm meshing with the first mentioned gear segment, a digitallyactuated arm also mounted to swing on said pivot and fixed to the first mentioned gear segment, connections between said last mentioned arm and the tying bill for rotating the latter, a plate mounted to swing on said pivot and fixed to the digitally-actuated arm, said plate having a cam slot therein, and a stud on said slide lying in said slot.

4. A knotter having, in combination, a rotary: tying bill, a pivoted arm having a hook, a gear-part rigid with the arm, a coacting driving gear-part, a slide on said arm adapted to coact with the hook to clamp the threads, a cam engaging the slide to reciprocate the latter, said cam and driving gear-part being rigidly connected together,

gearing connected to the cam for rotating the tying bill, and means for oscillating said driving gearepart and cam.

.5. A knotter havin in combination, a frame, a pivot in sai frame, a tying bill rotatably mounted in the frame, a hooked arm pivoted in the frame, a slide supported on the said arm for movement longitudi-' nally of the arm to clamp and release threads lying in the hook of said arm, a gear segment mounted to swing on said pivot, a gear segment on said arm meshing with the first mentioned gear segment, a digitally-actuated arm also mounted to swing on said pivotfa-nd fixedto the first mentioned gear segment, mentioned arm and the tying bill for rotating the latter, and connections between the connections between said last digitally-actuated arm and said slide for reciprocating the latter.

6. A knotter having, in combination, a frame, a pivot in said frame, a tying bill rotatably mounted in the frame, a hooked arm ivoted in the frame, a member arranged to camp and release threads lying in the hook of said arm, a gear segment mounted to swing on said pivot, a gear segment on said arm meshing with the first mentioned gear segment, a digitally-actuated arm also mounted to swin on said pivot and fixed to the first mentioned gear segment, connections between said last mentioned arm and the tying bill for rotating the latter, and connections between the digitally-actuated arm and said clamping member for actuating the latter.

7. A knotter having, in combination, a frame, a pivot in said frame, a tying bill rotatably( mounted in the frame, a hooked arm pivotally supported in the frame to swing upon an axis parallel with said pivot, a slide supported on said arm for movement longitudinally of the arm to clamp and release threads lying in the hook of said arm, a digitally-actuated arm mounted to swing on said pivot, connections between said arms for swinging the hooked arm, connections between the digitally-actuated arm and the tying bill for rotating the the latter, a plate rigidly connected to the digitally-actuated arm to swing in a plane parallel with the plane of movement of the hooked arm, said plate having a cam formation, and a member on the slide arranged to engage said cam formation.

8. A knotter having, in combination, a frame, a tying-bill rotatably mounted in theframe, a hooked arm pivotally supported in the frame. a member to clamp and release threads lying in the hook of said arm, a digitally-actuated arm' pivoted in said frame. connections-between said arms for swinging the hooked arm, connections between the digitally-actuated arm and the tying bill for rotating the latter,- a cam member rigidly connected to the digitallyactuated arm, and a part on the clamping member arranged to engage said cam member, said arms and cam member swinging in parallel planes.

9. A knotter having, in combination, a frame. a pivot in said frame, a tying bill rotatably mounted in the frame, a hooked arm pivoted in the frame, a. member arranged to clamp threads in the hook of said arm, a digitally-actuated arm mounted to swing on' said pivot, connections between said arms for swinging the hooked arm, a plate mounted to swing on said pivot and rigidly connectedto the digitally-actuated arm, said plate having a cam formation, and apart on said clamping member arranged to engage said cam formation.

10. A knot-tying implement having a framework, a tying bill rotatably mounted in the framework, a pinion connected to the tying bill, two arms rigidly secured together and pivoted in said framework, a gear segment fixed to one of said arms and meshing with the pinion, the other arm having a cam slot therein, a combined thread-guide, knottightener and knot-stripper comprising an arm pivoted in the framework and having a hook at its free end, a gear element rigid with the first mentioned arms, a coacting gear element connected to the third mentioned arm, a slide carried by the third arm for longitudinal movement, said slide having a thread-clamping device coacting with said hook, a part on said slide lying within said cam slot, and means for oscillating the first and second arms.

11. A knot-tying implement having a framework, a tying bill rotatably mounted in the framework, a-pinion connected to the tying bill, two arms rigidly secured together and pivoted in said framework, a gear segment fixed to one of said arms and meshing with the pinion, the other arm having a cam slot therein, a stripper arm pivoted in the framework and 'havin a hook at its free end, means for oscillating the stripper arm, a slide carried by the stripper arm for longitudinal movement, said slide having a thread-clamping device coacting with said hook, a part on said slide lying within said cam slot, and means for oscillating the first and second arms.

12. A knot-tying implement having a frame formed from. an integral piece of sheet metal and comprising two side members, a top wall and a front wall; a handle having an. arm, a stud riveted to one of the side members, a screw securing the front end of said arm to the stud, the rear ends of the side members having aligned openings therein, a post in said. openings, a screw rigidly securing the post to the arm, a screw rigidly securing one of the side members to the post, a tying bill rotatably mounted in said frame, a thread guidev and stripper supported by the arm, and digitally-operated means for actuating the tying bill and the thread guide and stripper.

13. A knot-tying implement having a frame comprising two walls, a tying bill having a supporting stem, a bracket secured to one of the walls, a roller having a socket to receive said stem, said roller having a rear sheet metal and comprising two side members, a top wall and a front wall, a tying bill having a supporting stem, a bracket secured to the top wall, a roller having a socket to receive said stem, said roller having a rear trunnion supported in said bracket, a bushing fitting rigidly within an opening in the front wall, said roller having a. front trunnion rotatably mounted in said bushing, said roller having gear teeth cut in its periphery, and a gear element coact- 1 ing with said teeth to rotate the tying bill.

15. A knot-tying implement having a frame formed from an integral 1 piece of sheet metal and comprising two side members 5 and 6, a top wall 7 and a front wall 8, a handle having an arm 3, a stud 9 riveted to the side member 6, and a screw 10 securing the front end of the arm 3 to the stud 9. 16. A knot-tying implement having a frame comprising two side members, the rear ends of the side members having aligned openings therein, a post in said openings, a supporting arm rigidly secured to the post, means rigidly securing one of the side members to the post, a tying bill rotatably mounted in said frame, a stripper supported by the arm, and digitally-operated means for actuating the tying bill and the stripper.

17. A knotter having a tying bill comprising two relatively stationary jaws, one

of said jaws having a concavity, a pivot pin having a convex base secured in said concavity, the other jaw having on its outer side a boss provided with an opening into which said pin extends, and a clamping jaw pivoted on said pin between the other jaws.

18. A knotter having a tying bill consisting of two semicylindrical sections consti tuting a tubular supporting stem, the ends of said sections being angular and forming jaws, and a clamping jaw pivoted between the other jaw.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

HOWARD D. COLMAN..

@Certifiahte of. Uorreciiolm.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,i50;941, granted April 10, 1923,

upon the application of Howard D. Colman, of Rockford, Illinois, for an improvement in Knotters, an error appears in the. printed specification requiring 'cor-v rection as follows: Page 4:, after 11118 108, insert the following as claim 19:

19. A knotter basing, in combination, a tying bill consisting of two sections. forming a supporting stem, the outer ends of said sections forming y'arws, a clamping jaw pivoted between the other jaws, a pinion having an axial socket to contain the inner end portions of said sections, and a set screw caw-ied by said pinion for dumping said sections in said socket.

and that the said Letters Patent shou'lxi be read with thi correction therein that T the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent ()fiice.

Signed and sealed this 1st day of May, A. D., 1923. 1

I Aeting flonwlissiom of Patents. 

